Beijing vs Shanghai for University
City comparison (ranking evidence)
| Metric | Beijing | Shanghai |
|---|---|---|
| Ranked universities | 2 | 2 |
| In global consensus top 200 | 2 | 2 |
| Best QS 2026 world rank | 14 | 30 |
| Top university (consensus rank) | Tsinghua University · #14 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University · #34 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Beijing or Shanghai a better student city?
Both are established university cities. On ranking evidence: Beijing has 2 ranked universities in our data and Shanghai has 2. The highest-ranked institution across the two cities is Tsinghua University (consensus #14, Beijing). A "best student city" also depends on cost of living, safety, transport, job opportunities and lifestyle — factors rankings don't capture. QS publishes a separate Best Student Cities index that weighs these directly.
Which universities are in Beijing and Shanghai?
In Beijing: Tsinghua University (#14), Peking University (#18). In Shanghai: Shanghai Jiao Tong University (#34), Fudan University (#38). See the full lists on our city ranking pages.
How many top-200 universities are in Beijing and Shanghai?
Beijing has 2 universities in EduRank's global consensus top 200, and Shanghai has 2. The consensus averages percentile performance across QS, THE, ARWU and U.S. News.
Cite this page: EduRank (2026). Beijing vs Shanghai for University. https://edurank.co/compare/city/beijing-vs-shanghai/
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